Magnetic Jewelry Clasp and Interchangeable Pendant System

ABSTRACT

A jewelry holder for holding a strand of jewelry may include a front ring member including a first embedded magnet and a back ring member including a second embedded magnet. The front ring member may be detachably connected to the back ring member by cooperation of the first embedded magnet and the second embedded magnet. The jewelry holder may include a center member, and the center member may be substantially T-shaped. The center member may include a potentially decorative back surface, and the center member may include a third magnet to cooperate with the first magnet and the second magnet. The third magnet may be positioned within an aperture of the central member, and the center member may include a cover for the aperture of the center member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a magnetic clasp or a magneticconnecting device for jewelry or personal ornamental accessories such asnecklaces, bracelets, or the like, jewelry accessories such as pendantsand or centerpieces, and, in particular, to a magnetic clasp to be usedto detachably fit or connect to the ends of the jewelry and/or jewelryaccessory together.

BACKGROUND

For many years, jewelry designers have been looking for ways to allowflexibility in the look of their jewelry from charm bracelets to thetraditional chain and pendant designs where users would thread variousthin jewelry chains to a small ring from which a pendant hung. When theuser wanted a different chain or pendant configuration it would benecessary to unthread and rethread a new pendant or new chain.

As for connecting devices that connect the ends of ornamentalaccessories such as a necklace, a pendant, or the like which is to beput to actual use in the form of an endless chain, there have beendisclosed many ideas. A wide and highly used variety of connectingdevices uses a construction in which a hook is engaged into a ring.Another variety is one in which a fitting device provided on both endsis engaged by means of a spring force. In wearing the above-describedornamental accessories, the handling for connection or engagement ofsplit ends thereof should preferably be simple seeing that suchconnecting or engaging operation must be performed at the rear portionof the wearer's neck with his or her hands wound there around.

The fitting device made up of a hook and a ring is relatively simple inthe connecting and disconnecting operation, but has a disadvantage inthat the engagement is likely to be released or come out of engagementwithout the wearer's knowledge. Many pieces of jewelry or jewelryaccessories have been lost due to this defect. The fitting device to beconnected by means of a spring force, on the other hand, is relativelysimple and handy, but it is accompanied with the trouble of having torelease the spring force at the time of disengagement thereof. Thespring release is often a tricky procedure which causes the wearer aloss of time and patience.

The system for jewelry accessories such as a pendant is most problematicwith beaded jewelry. Often times the beads are too large for themajority of the pendants to be strung on. Most pendants will not acceptmultiple beaded strands or thick chains. Some pendant systems use asingle small magnet, and the result is not sufficiently strong in orderto accommodate the user's needs.

US patent application 2006/0096070 discloses a magnetic clasp forsecuring a piece of jewelry that includes a first connecting devicehaving a first cylindrical magnet with a top surface. The firstcylindrical magnet has a hollow cylindrical section located at thecenter of the first top surface. Additionally, a second connectingdevice has a second cylindrical magnet with a second top surface. Thesecond cylindrical magnet has a cylindrical protruding member located atthe center of the second top surface. The protruding section of thesecond connecting device fits into the hollow section of the firstconnecting device. The magnetic clasp locks when the first and secondconnecting devices are brought together allowing opposite magnetic polesto face each other. To unlock the magnetic clasp, the first and secondconnecting devices are rotatably turned allowing like poles to face eachother.

SUMMARY

A jewelry holder for holding a strand of jewelry may include a frontring member including a first embedded magnet and a back ring memberincluding a second embedded magnet.

The front ring member may be detachably connected to the back ringmember by cooperation of the first embedded magnet and the secondembedded magnet.

The jewelry holder may include a center member, and the center membermay be substantially T-shaped.

The center member may include a bottom section and the bottom sectionmay include a decorative bottom surface to act as a pendant orcenterpiece, and the center member may include a third magnet tocooperate with the first magnet and the second magnet.

The third magnet may be positioned within an aperture of the centralmember, and the center member may include a cover for the aperture ofthe center member.

The front ring member may include a front ring enclosure to enclose aplurality of rings to support at least one strand of jewelry, and theback ring member may include a back ring enclosure to enclose aplurality of rings to support at least one strand of jewelry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the front ring member and a back ringmember;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the front ring member, the backring member and the center member;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bottom surface of thebottom section of the center member so as to show its decorativepotential;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the front ring member, back ringmember and the center member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides an advantage in the form of relief infunction for users who may have arthritis or other disabilities to thehands or suffer from poor eyesight or eye hand coordination.

The clasp design of the present invention is adapted to accommodatemultiple strands of beads and can accommodate many strands or fewstrands as desired. The clasp design of the present inventionaccommodates a larger, stronger magnet that is capable of holding theweight of multiple strands of jewelry which may include natural stonebeads which may be too heavy for the prior art magnetic clasp.

The clasp design of the present invention incorporates a pin and holesystem to secure the magnets from disconnecting and may not require theuser any additional steps in order to take the clasp on and off.

The present invention does not require more complicated security systemswhich require the user to preformed additional steps.

The present invention incorporates magnets for easy installation andremoval in order to change jewelry. The present invention incorporatesincreased flexibility in the look of the jewelry with respect to theoption for multiple strands of beads/change, multiple sizes ofbeads/chains and multiple configurations of jewelry and jewelryaccessories with use of the center member.

The present invention employs a pair of magnets which may cooperate inorder to provide additional strength and safety. Additionally, thepresent invention employs a pin and hole system. This type of systemdoes not require additional steps for the user.

FIG. 1 illustrates a jewelry holder 100 accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a front ring member 101 whichmay be referred to as a male member and a back ring member 103 which maybe referred to as a female member. The front ring member 101 and theback ring member 103 may be substantially rectangular and formed fromwood, metal, plastic or other appropriate material. The front ringmember 101 may include a embedded first magnet 105 which may include anorth pole and a south pole and the north pole may be on the exterior ofthe front ring member 101 with the south pole being on the interior ofthe front ring member 101. FIG. 1 illustrates a substantiallyrectangular first magnet 105, but the first magnet 105 may be ovalcircular or any other appropriate shape. The back ring member 103 mayinclude an embedded second magnet 107 which may include a south polebeing near the exterior of the back ring member 103 and the north polebeing near the interior of the back ring member 103. Consequently, thefront ring member 101 may attract and retain the back ring member 103.

The back surface 109 of the front ring member 101 may include a firstand second male pin 111 to cooperate with a back surface 113 which mayinclude a first and second female aperture 115. The first and secondmale pin 111 is inserted into the first and second female aperture 115and held in place by the force of the magnetic fields generated by thefirst magnet 105 and the second magnet 107. The first and second malepin 111 and the first and second female aperture 115 prevent the frontring member 101 and the back ring member 103 from twisting and orshearing.

The front ring member 101 may include a front ring enclosure 119 toenclose a ring member 131 (not shown in FIG. 1), and the back ringmember 103 may include a back ring enclosure 117 to enclose the ringmember 131. The top and bottom surface of the front ring enclosure 119which may define a substantially rectangular aperture and being open atone end to allow the ring member 131 to be stored within the front ringenclosure 119 and the top and bottom surface of the back ring enclosure117 which may define a substantially rectangular aperture being open atone end to allow the ring member 131 to be stored within the back ringenclosure 117 and may include multiple channels 133 in order tocooperate with the ring member 131 in order to hold multiple strands ofjewelry.

The front ring member 101 and the back ring member 103 may cooperatetogether to hold strands of jewelry.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the front ring member 101 andthe back ring member 103 which may cooperate with the center member 151which may be substantially T-shaped and may include a central section153 and a bottom section 155 and the bottom section 155 may include atop surface 157 and a bottom surface 159 which may be decorative innature. The central section 153 may be positioned on the top surface 157and may include a front surface 161 and may include a back surface 163for cooperating with the front ring member 101 and the back ring member103 respectively. The front surface 161 and the back surface 163 may beconnected by a side surface 165. The top side surface 167 may include acentral aperture 169 to receive a third magnet 171 and may include acentral cover 173 to enclose the third magnet 171 within the centralaperture 169.

The back surface 163 may include a first and second female aperture 173to cooperate with the first and second male pin 111 to detachablyconnect the front ring member 101 to the central member 151. Likewise,the front surface 161 may include a first and second male pin 175 tocooperate with the first and second female aperture 115 of the back ringmember 103 to detachably connect the back ring member 103 to the centralmember 151. Consequently the front ring member 101 may be detachablyconnected to the back ring member 103 and may be connected by the forceof two magnets or alternatively, the front ring member 101 may bedetachably connected to the center member 151 and the back ring member103 may be detachably connected to the center member 151 by the force ofthree magnets.

The top surface 157 of the center member 151 bottom section 155 may actas a platform for the front ring member 101 and the back ring member103.

FIG. 3 illustrates the potential decorative nature of bottom surface 159of the center member 151 bottom section 155.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view and illustrates a front ring member101 which may be referred to as a male member and a back ring member 103which may be referred to as a female member. The front ring member 101and the back ring member 103 may be substantially rectangular and formedfrom wood, metal, plastic or other appropriate material. The front ringmember 101 may include an embedded first magnet 105 which may include anorth pole and a south pole and the north pole may be on the exterior ofthe front ring member 101 with the south pole being on the interior ofthe front ring member 101. FIG. 4 illustrates a substantiallyrectangular first magnet 105, but the front magnet 105 may be ovalcircular or any other appropriate shape. The back ring member 103 mayinclude an embedded second magnet 107 which may include a south polebeing near the exterior of the back ring member 103 and the north polebeing near the interior of the back ring member 103. Consequently, thefront ring member 101 may attract and retain the back ring member 103.

The back surface 109 of the front ring member 101 may include a firstand second male pin 111 to cooperate with a back surface 113 of the backring member 103 which may include a first and second female aperture115. The first and second male pin 111 is inserted into the first andsecond female aperture 115 and held in place by the force of themagnetic fields generated by the first magnet 105 and the second magnet107. The first and second male pin 111 and the first and second femaleaperture 115 prevent the front ring member 101 and the back ring member103 from twisting and or shearing.

The front ring member 101 may include a front ring enclosure 119 toenclose a ring member 131 as shown in FIG. 4, and the back ring member103 may include a back ring enclosure 117 to enclose the ring member131. The top and bottom surface of the front ring enclosure 119 whichmay define a substantially rectangular aperture and being open at oneend to allow the ring member 131 to be stored within the front ringenclosure 119 and the top and bottom surface of the back ring enclosure117 which may define a substantially rectangular aperture being open atone end to allow the ring member 131 to be stored within the back ringenclosure 117 and may include multiple channels 133 in order tocooperate with the ring member 131 in order to hold multiple strands ofjewelry.

The front ring member 101 and the back ring member 103 may cooperatetogether to hold strands of jewelry.

FIG. 4 illustrates the front ring member 101 and the back ring member103 which may cooperate with the center member 151 which may besubstantially T-shaped and may include a central section 153 and abottom section 155 and the bottom section 155 may include a top surface157 and a potentially decorative bottom surface 159. The central section153 may be positioned on the top surface 157 and may include a frontsurface 161 and may include a back surface 163 for cooperating with thefront ring member 101 and the back ring member 103 respectively. Thefront surface 161 and the back surface 163 may be connected by a sidesurface 165. The top side surface 167 may include a central aperture 169to receive a third magnet 171 and may include a central cover 173 toenclose the third magnet 171 within the central aperture 169.

The back surface 163 may include a first and second female aperture 177to cooperate with the first and second male pin 111 to detachablyconnect the front ring member 101 to the center member 151. Likewise,the front surface 161 may include a first and second male pin 175 tocooperate with the first and second female aperture 115 of the back ringmember 103 to detachably connect the back ring member 103 to the centermember 151. Consequently, the front ring member 101 may be detachablyconnected to the back ring member 103 and may be connected by the forceof two magnets or alternatively, the front ring member 101 may bedetachably connected to the center member 151 and the back ring member103 may be detachably connected to the center member 151 by the force ofthree magnets.

The top surface 157 of the center member 151 bottom section 155 may actas a platform for the front ring member 101 and the back ring member103.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed.

1) A jewelry holder for holding a strand of jewelry, comprising: a frontring member including a first embedded magnet; and a back ring memberincluding a second embedded magnet; wherein the front ring member isdetachably connected to the back ring member by cooperation of the firstembedded magnet and the second embedded magnet. 2) A jewelry holder forholding a strand of jewelry as in claim 1, wherein the jewelry holderincludes a center member. 3) A jewelry holder for holding a strand ofjewelry as in claim 2, wherein the center member is substantiallyT-shaped. 4) A jewelry holder for holding a strand of jewelry as inclaim 1, wherein the center member includes a potentially decorativeback surface. 5) A jewelry holder for holding a strand of jewelry as inclaim 2, wherein the center member includes a third magnet to cooperatewith the first magnet and the second magnet. 6) A jewelry holder forholding a strand of jewelry as in claim 5, wherein the third magnet ispositioned within an aperture of the center member. 7) A jewelry holderfor holding a strand of jewelry as in claim 6, wherein the center memberincludes a cover for the aperture of the center member. 8) A jewelryholder for holding a strand of jewelry as in claim 1, wherein the frontring member includes a front ring enclosure to enclose a plurality ofrings to support at least one strand of jewelry. 9) A jewelry holder forholding a strand of jewelry as in claim 1, wherein the back ring memberincludes a back ring enclosure to enclose a plurality of rings tosupport at least one strand of jewelry.